SCHEDULE
Check out last years'...
Thursday, May 11th, 2023
Friday, May 12th, 2023
9:00-10:00am- Birder's Breakfast
The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island
10:30am, 12:00pm & 2:00pm- The Birds of North Beach *
Seabrook Island beach
10:30am, 11:00am & 2:00pm- Capt. Sams Discovery Walk
Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah Island
10:30am & 2:00pm- Exploring the East End
Ocean Course, Kiawah Island
5:30-7:30pm: Red Knot Reception
The Sandcastle, Kiawah Island
8:00am-9:30am- Birder's Boat Tour
9:00-11:00am- Exploring the East End
Ocean Course, Kiawah Island
1:00-3:00pm- The Birds of North Beach *
Seabrook Island beach
12:00-2:00pm- Capt. Sams Discovery Walk
Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah Island
12:00pm-4:00pm- Feather Fest
Kiawah Town Hall Green
No registration required, family-friendly!
7:00-9:00pm- Birds of the Inlet *
Lake House, Seabrook Island
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Event Descriptions: May 11th, 2023
Birder's Breakfast 9:00-10:00am | The Sandcastle
Kick-off the Sea Islands Shorebird Festival by joining the organizers for light bites and coffee! Mingle with the different organizations planning the festival and fellow coastal bird enthusiasts. Come learn more about the unique geography of the two islands and the significance it has for the survival of migrating red knots and other shorebirds. Expect a bird's eye view of the festival and exciting visuals of the area's beautiful bird life through posters, slideshows, literature, and scopes- all from the comfort of a beach-front porch.
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Exploring The East End
10:30am-12:30pm
2:00pm-4:00pm
Captain Sams Inlet Discovery Walk
10:30am-12:30pm
11:00am-1:30pm
2:00pm-4:00pm
The Birds of North Beach
10:30-12:30pm
12:00pm-2:30pm
2:00-4:00pm
Kiawah Town Biologist, Aaron Given will lead this trip to explore Kiawah Island’s east beach which features expansive mud and sand flats providing habitat for a variety of shorebirds and seabirds such as Red Knots, Wilson’s Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and more. If the tide allows, we will attempt to visit Kiawah’s only Least Tern colony which in recent years has been the largest in the state.
We will meet in the parking lot of the Ocean Course Clubhouse and walk out to the beach. The walk will be about 3 miles round trip. Depending on beach conditions, we may need to cross shallow inlets so proper footwear (or no footwear) will be essential.
Follow Natural History Interpreter, Keith McCullough and Dr. Abby Sterling, for this out & back, 2-mile walk on the beach, starting and ending at Beachwalker County Park. Keith will lead participants to Captain Sams Inlet, stopping along the way to identify various species of shorebirds, shells, crustaceans, and plants. At the inlet, participants will learn about the critical habitat the area provides for Red Knots, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead sea turtles and many more!
For the 10:30am and 2:00pm walks, participants will meet in the parking lot of Beachwalker County Park. For the 11:00am walk, participants will be required to take the shuttle. Shuttle details will be sent to registrants in advance.
Join Coastal Bird Biologist, Janet Thibault, on Seabrook Island’s North Beach for a chance to see Red Knots and a variety of migratory shorebirds that forage on the beach or roost in the critical habitat around Captain Sams Inlet. The 2.5 mile roundtrip will pass a cat-eye pond where shorebirds can forage on any tide and ultimately end at the inlet. North Beach has also hosted nesting American Oystercatchers, Wilson’s Plovers and Least Terns in the past.
Details for parking will be sent to registrants before the event for the 10:30am & 2:00pm walks. The 12:00pm walk will be shuttle service. Shuttle details will be sent to registrants in advance.
Red Knot Reception 5:30-7:30pm | The Sandcastle
Hosted by the Kiawah Conservancy, the Red Knot Reception will include wine, hors d'oeuvres, and of course, Red Knots in the context of South Carolina. Moderated by Dr. Abby Sterling, the evening will begin with a brief presentation of the significance of the Sea Islands for Red Knot migration. Wildlife photographer, Benjamin Clock will showcase his new short-film documentary featuring Red Knots and ongoing conservation efforts in the Southeast. Felicia Sanders will present results from recent research conducted on Kiawah and Seabrook that demonstrate the region’s critical role in Red Knot survival. The evening will end in a panel discussion for an interactive discussion between conservationists, facilitated by questions from the audience. This event requires a non-refundable $10 registration fee.
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Event Descriptions: May 12th, 2023
Birder's Boat Tour 8:00-9:30am | Mingo Point Boat Dock
Join South Carolina Audubon Coastal Program Manager, Nolan Schillerstrom, and Captain Bradley Schmoll of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in a boat tour up the Kiawah River. We will explore the vast mudflats and oyster beds which host a variety of shorebirds and seabirds. This will also be a great opportunity to see and learn about Kiawah’s Bottlenose Dolphins. This trip will leave from Mingo Point boat dock.
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Feather Fest! 12:00-4:00pm | Kiawah Island Municipal Center
Celebrate the shorebirds of the Sea Islands in true family-friendly festival style with local artists including photographers, painters, authors, and crafters showcasing the magnificent beauty of these animals through various mediums. Feather Fest will include exhibitors, festival organizers, kid's activities, and a food truck for all to enjoy. Walk around the various artist tables, sit down for a bite to eat from Smokin' Gringo's food truck, and learn about coastal bird conservation throughout South Carolina and beyond.
Learn more about the organizations and artists joining us HERE!
Kiawah resident, Lisa Donovan will be signing copies of her new book "Birds at the Beach and Beyond" at Feather Fest! Written for children up to age 7--and reviewed by Festival speakers Melissa Chaplin, Aaron Given, and Janet Thibault--the book introduces little ones to 21 birds (and one surprise!) with whimsical verses and beautiful collage illustrations. The back of the book lists ways to be a friend to birds at the beach. Come get yours and stay for a collage craft with your little ones!
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Exploring the East End
9:00am-11:00am
Captain Sams Inlet Discovery Walk
12:00pm-2:00pm
The Birds of North Beach
1:00pm-3:00pm
Kiawah Town Biologist, Aaron Given will lead this trip to explore Kiawah Island’s east beach which features expansive mud and sand flats providing habitat for a variety of shorebirds and seabirds such as Red Knots, Wilson’s Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and more. If the tide allows, we will attempt to visit Kiawah’s only Least Tern colony which in recent years has been the largest in the state. We will meet in the parking lot of the Ocean Course Clubhouse and walk out to the beach. The walk will be about 3 miles round trip. Depending on beach conditions, we may need to cross shallow inlets so proper footwear (or no footwear) will be essential.
Follow Naural History Interpreter, Keith McCullough for this out & back, 2-mile walk on the beach, starting and ending at Beachwalker County Park. Keith will lead participants to Captain Sams Inlet, stopping along the way to identify various species of shorebirds, shells, crustaceans, and plants. At the inlet, participants will learn about the critical habitat the area provides for Red Knots, Bottlenose dolphins, Loggerhead sea turtles and many more!
Join coastal bird biologist, Janet Thibault, on Seabrook Island’s North Beach for a chance to see Red Knots and a variety of migratory shorebirds that forage on the beach or roost in the critical habitat around Captain Sams Inlet. The roundtrip will be a 2.5 mile walk leading to the inlet, pass a cat-eye pond where shorebirds can forage on any tide. North Beach has also hosted nesting American Oystercatchers, Wilson’s Plovers and Least Terns.
Details for parking will be sent to registrants before the event.
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Birds of the Inlet- 7:00-9:00pm | Lake House, Seabrook Island
Hosted by Seabrook Island Birders, the evening event will be comprised of four different speaking portions, each unveiling a different aspect of the importance of Captain Sams Spit Inlet and surroundings for coastal birds. Janet Thibault will unveil an overview of the Kiawah/Seabrook complex and its unique topography that lends itself to the critical habitat for coastal birds. Melissa Chaplin will present on the over-wintering Piping Plovers in and around the inlet. Abby Sterling will focus on the nesting habit and behavior of the iconic American Oystercatcher. Maina Handmaker will share her ongoing research of the world's largest known Whimbrel roost and their foraging ecology. Along with a wealth of ornothological knowledge and the region's best biologists, the evening will also include after-dinner bites and refreshments. This event requires a non-refundable registration fee of $10.
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Picture credit: Pamela Cohen- 1,2,3,4,6 Mark Andrews- 5 Will Fellows- 7 Kaitlyn Hackathorn- 8 Allyssa Zebrowski- 9